Plan for Addressing Sexual Abuse, Trafficking, and Other Maltreatment

LTS has established a plan for addressing child sexual abuse, trafficking, and other maltreatment of children. For purposes of this plan, “trafficking” includes both sex and labor trafficking. The plan may be accessed by contacting the campus counselor, principal, or other designated administrator.

What Is Sexual Abuse of a Child?

“Sexual abuse” in the Texas Family Code is defined as any sexual conduct harmful to a child’s mental, emotional, or physical welfare, as well as a failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent sexual conduct with a child. A person who compels or encourages a child to engage in sexual conduct commits abuse. It is illegal to make or possess child pornography or to display such material to a child.

What Is Trafficking?

Child trafficking in any form is prohibited by the Texas Penal Code. Sex trafficking involves forcing a person, including a child, into sexual abuse, assault, indecency, prostitution, or pornography. Labor trafficking involves forcing a person, including a child, to engage in forced labor or services.

Be aware that traffickers may be trusted members of a child’s community, such as friends, romantic partners, family members, mentors, and coaches, although traffickers frequently make contact with victims online.

What Is Other Maltreatment of a Child?

Other maltreatment of a child under the Texas Family Code includes “abuse” or “neglect” of a child.

Reporting and Responding to Sexual Abuse, Trafficking, and Other Maltreatment of Children

Anyone who suspects that a child has been or may be abused, trafficked, or neglected has a legal responsibility, under state law, for reporting the suspected abuse or neglect to law enforcement or to the DFPS.

A child who has experienced sexual abuse, trafficking, or any other type of abuse or neglect should be encouraged to seek out a trusted adult. Be aware as a parent or other trusted adult that disclosures of sexual abuse and trafficking may be more indirect than disclosures of physical abuse and neglect, and it is important to be calm and comforting if your child, or another child, confides in you. Reassure the child that he or she did the right thing by telling you.

Parents, if your child is a victim of sexual abuse, trafficking, or other maltreatment, the school counselor or principal will provide information regarding counseling options for you and your child that are available in your area. The DFPS also manages early intervention counseling programs. To find out what services may be available in your county, see Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Programs Available in Your County.

Reports of abuse, trafficking, or neglect may be made to

Texas Abuse Hotline: 1-800-252-5400;
In nonemergency situations, the Texas Abuse Hotline Website;
Your local police department; or
Call 911 for emergency situations.

Methods for Increasing Awareness Regarding Sexual Abuse, Trafficking, or Other Maltreatment

For Staff: LTS trains staff in all content areas addressed in the plan. Training is provided by campus staff, administrative staff, or outside agencies as determined by the campus administration. The training includes prevention techniques for and recognition of sexual abuse, trafficking, and all other maltreatment of children, including sexual abuse, trafficking, and other maltreatment of children with significant cognitive disabilities.

For Students: School counseling staff will address issues to increase awareness regarding sexual abuse, trafficking, and other maltreatment of children and anti-victimization programs with age-appropriate conversation and materials no less than once per school year. These discussions will occur in classroom group settings.

For Parents: Parents must be aware of warning signs indicating that their child may have been or is being sexually abused, trafficked, or otherwise maltreated.

The fact that the abuser is a parent or other family member does not remove your obligation to protect the child. Parents who permit their child to remain in a situation where he or she may be injured or abused may also be subject to prosecution for child abuse. If a parent is frightened for their own safety or that of their child, they should call 911 or the Texas Abuse Hotline (1-800-252-5400).

Also remember that parents are legally responsible for the care of their children and must provide their children with safe and adequate food, clothing, shelter, protection, medical care, and supervision, or arrange for someone else to provide these things. Failure to do so may be considered neglect.

These websites are also helpful: • Child Sexual Abuse: A Parental Guide from the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault • Child Welfare Information Gateway Factsheet • Human Trafficking of School-Aged Children • KidsHealth, for Parents, Child Abuse • National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments: Child Labor Trafficking • Office of the Texas Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team

Likely Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse, Trafficking, or Other Maltreatment

Possible warning signs of sexual abuse or other maltreatment may include

an older child behaving like a young child, for example, bed-wetting or thumb-sucking;
becoming increasingly secretive about internet or telephone use;
developing special relationships with older friends that may include unexplained money, gifts, or privileges;
difficulty sitting or walking, pain in the genital areas, and claims of stomachaches and headaches;
engaging in adult-like sexual activities with toys, objects, or other children;
fear of being alone with adults;
play, writing, drawings, or dreams of sexual or frightening images;
using new or adult words for body parts;
verbal references or pretend games of sexual activity between adults and children, fear of being alone with adults of a particular gender, or sexually suggestive behavior; and/or
withdrawal, depression, sleeping and eating disorders, and problems in school.

Possible warnings signs of sexual trafficking include

changes in school attendance, habits, friend groups, vocabulary, demeanor, and attitude;
frequent runaway incidents;
isolation from friends, family, and community;
multiple phones or social media accounts;
older boyfriends or girlfriends;
provocative pictures posted online or stored on the phone;
refillable gift cards;
social interaction and schedule being strictly controlled by someone else;
sudden appearance of expensive items (for instance, manicures, designer clothes, purses, technology);
tattoos or branding; and
unexplained injuries.

Possible warning signs of labor trafficking in children include

a desire to quit a job but not being allowed to do so;
being employed and having a work permit, but clearly working outside the permitted hours for students;
being employed but not having a school-authorized work permit;
being overly concerned with pleasing an employer and/or deferring personal or educational decisions to a boss;
being unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips;
living with an employer or having an employer listed as a student’s caregiver;
not being allowed breaks at work or being subjected to excessively long work hours;
not being in control of his or her own money; and
owing a large debt and being unable to pay it off.

Any one sign does not necessarily mean that a child has been sexually abused, trafficked, or maltreated, but the presence of several signs is when you should begin asking questions and seeking help. Often signs first emerge at other times of stress, such as during a divorce, upon the death of a family member or pet, when problems occur at school or with friends, or during other traumatic or anxiety-inducing events.

Actions That Should Be Taken by a Victim of Sexual Abuse, Trafficking, or Other Maltreatment

During student awareness sessions concerning sexual abuse, trafficking, and other maltreatment issues, students will be encouraged to tell a trusted adult in a private and confidential conversation if they have been a victim of sexual abuse, have been sex trafficked, or have experienced other maltreatment or have been in situations that make them feel uncomfortable in any way.

School employees are trained to take appropriate actions to help the child obtain assistance and to follow proper reporting procedures. Older students will also be provided with local crisis hotline numbers to obtain assistance.

Available Counseling Options

A list of counseling providers can be found through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Programs Available in Your County website.

Notice of Penalties for Trafficking of Persons and Online Solicitation of a Minor

Under Penal Code 20A.02(b-1), an offense related to human trafficking is a first degree felony if the offense is committed in a location that was on the premises of, or within 1,000 feet of the premises of, a school, or on premises, or within 1,000 feet of premises, where an official school function was taking place or an event sponsored or sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League was taking place.

Additionally, under Penal Code 33.021(f-1), there are enhanced penalties for the offense of online solicitation of a minor if the actor committed the offense during regular school hours and the actor knew or reasonably should have known that the minor was enrolled in a public or private school at the time of the offense.